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That is an impressive list, the only problem is I don't think anyone should be put over Shakespeare, I do enjoy Fyodor though. It is sad to see the amount of people commenting who are exemplifying a remonstrance against Virginia Woolf, it makes me doubt if these people really know anything about good Literature.

Is anyone else a big fan of Robert Olen Butler? He won the Pulitzer in '93 for "A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain" and his new book "A Small Hotel" looks amazing. I love how he manages to keep reinventing himself.

I would have Faulkner at the top, followed by Kafka, Dostoyevsky, and Joyce in any order then Shakespeare rounding out the top 5. I realize Shakespeare at 5 is borderline seditious to many of you, but all of the aforementioned are writers of prodigious talent, with my order predicated on the degree to which they inspired me.

Do modern day story tellers count in all of this? While this is a literature forum the question was best authors. I put in my vote for Stieg Larrson, and J.K. Rowling. You can all laugh at my choices but I believe them to be valid.

That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. I'm from Sweden and here we appreciate Hemingway, Faulkner, Steinbeck, Emily Dickinson, Whitman, Melville just as highly as Dostoevsky or anybody else (or higher as in my case). American literature is extremely diverse and has some of the finest and some of the worst writers ever.

Thank you for your observation. I didn't say that they are bad, I am just pointing that in other parts of world (because this is mostly USA based forum) people more prefer other writers and thus, list is like it is. Remember, people voted for it and the results are here. They were pretty expected to me, to be honest.

At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness,
During times of heavy loss And when you're sad
The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay.

To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong.
If you need me urgent, send me a PM

Do modern day story tellers count in all of this? While this is a literature forum the question was best authors. I put in my vote for Stieg Larrson, and J.K. Rowling. You can all laugh at my choices but I believe them to be valid.

Everyone was included.

At thunder and tempest, At the world's coldheartedness,
During times of heavy loss And when you're sad
The greatest art on earth Is to seem uncomplicatedly gay.

To get things clear, they have to firstly be very unclear. But if you get them too quickly, you probably got them wrong.
If you need me urgent, send me a PM